Thank you Spnw07 for your encouragement. I agree with you that
we need to recommend based on a person's capability and his
inclination. Personally, my focus is PL (reciting Amitabha with
chanting the Amitabha Sutra daily) but notice that the 3
recommendations above is not PL-related.
山西小院 is on Ksitigarbha
Sutra:
1. Most of them are farmers/peasants who are very sincere and
honest. Some chant due to fillial piety (for
their sick mother). This teaches us that pure motivation, sincerity
and honesty is the key to success fo any dharma door.
2. The show is interleaved with very basic explanation from
Master Chin Kung about Buddhism, which I feel is suitable for most
beginners
3. At the end of the show, a nun actually said she chanted
Ksitigarbha Sutra with strong
focus (一门深入) for many years. This teaches us that once you choose a
dharma door, focus on it, do not be greedy and try to learn too
many different dharma doors
My wife and I typically distribute 山西小院 to close relatives, cancer patients,
old folks with strong Chinese backgrond. It is definitely not
suitable for beginners who is English educated or has a very strong
logical mind that rejects anything non-scientific.
家和万事兴 and the miaoyin
cartoons are on traditional chinese moral values (Confuscicous),
family harmony and education. As the content is non-religious, we
will typically distribute this to Chinese-speaking colleagues who
has primary school kids.
Our education system,
teaches our children to compete from primary one (see my other
thread on primary school) and children gets rewarded for academic
achievement rather than moral values. A reward system based on
competition will result in only conflict within (buddha nature vs
greed etc), conflict within family (brothers go to court), conflict
between students/teachers, conflicts between students. Such
conflicts already stirring in our society for years and it is
getting worse nowadays.
The cause of prosperity
of our Singapore today is a result of selfless contribution by our
MM Lee's generation. They planted the seeds of prosperity so we
have the fruits right now. But looking forward, what is the new
generation like? A group of very intelligent young men/women
growing up with cloud of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance in
their mind? If they are our future leaders, how long do you think
our prosperity will last? The establish a dynasty is tough,
to end it is easy. Remember the story of 岳飞？Who actually result in
end of Song Dynasty?? It was the Emperor of Song. He feared that
if 岳飞 won
the war, the previous Kings will return and took over this throne
!!! So he put 岳飞 in jail and leading to the end of
Song Dynasty.
Therefore, many
Buddhist living masters now are pushing for
弟子规 as the basis for
education. 弟子规 圣人训 首孝悌
次谨信 泛爱众 而亲仁 有余力 则学文. Isn't this the spirit of Ksitigarbha Sutra?? If all children in
Singapore can practise 首孝悌 次谨信
泛爱众 而亲仁, there will be no
conflicts, no need for compulsory annuities, no need for old folks
home. And I am sure a pureland/heaven awaits us. Firstly,
what we should do is to educate people about 弟子规 classes and urge them to send their
kids. Secondly, distribute such materials to people who has
young kids, hopefully they can learn something.